THERE has been a 24 per cent increase in accidents at work among the 700 staff who work for Fenland District Council. And there were 399 days were lost through work related injuries, says the council s annual health and safety report. Following a contin

THERE has been a 24 per cent increase in accidents at work among the 700 staff who work for Fenland District Council.

And there were 399 days were lost through work related injuries, says the council's annual health and safety report.

"Following a continuing reduction in the number of accidents over the past few years, there has been a disappointing increase this year," says David Vincent, corporate health and safety advisor.

The council's latest health and safety report details the 72 accidents that have occurred in the past year, up from 58 the year before.

Mr Vincent will tell the staff committee on June 8 that 22 accidents involved staff slipping or tripping and 13 were caused while handling, lifting or carrying objects.

Only one accident involved falling from a height. Twelve incidents were recorded of people striking against "something fixed or stationary".

More than two thirds of the accidents occurred with the refuse and cleansing departments.

Mr Vincent says there's some good news since for the past two years the council has had an agreement with Huntingdonshire District Council to share statistical accident/incident data.

This, he says, is to enable Fenland "to benchmark against a similar local authority that provides corresponding services and staffing levels."

Comparing both he says "it is pleasing to note than we had slightly less total accidents/incidents although this time we had a higher level of report accidents".

The report will also show that in Fenland last year there were 12 reported incidents of violence to staff, a slight reduction from the 20 reported the previous year.

n Worst months for days lost through work related incidents are May, June, July and September. Best month is April,